The majority of the problems related to wellbore stability occur when argillaceous rocks, such as shales, are drilled. Such problems are believed, in general, to be caused by the physical-chemical interaction between drilling fluids and the referred rocks. This dissertation focuses on the experimental study of the behavior of shales exposed to different saline solutions, which simulated water-based drilling fluids. The objective is to estimate the mass transporting parameters (absolute permeability, reflection coefficient and diffusion) necessary for the analysis of well stability. Groups of diffusion cells are used, being capable of simulating in-situ stress conditions and apply hydraulic gradients and chemicals upon shale samples. Two types of shales were characterized; representative of offshore (BC-01) and onshore (Pierre01) platforms derived, respectively, from Bacia de Campos (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Porosimetry tests indicate that BC-01 shales present larger pore diameters when comparing with Pierre01 Shales. Experimental results from diffusion cells suggest that the direction of foliation planes present in the samples defines its permeability and, therefore the coefficient of reflection that the shales possess. The results suggest that mineral composition does not influence the mass transporting parameters.